Bruins

Bruins Hit Busy Stretch, Not Looking Ahead To Vancouver

Brad Marchand #63 of the Boston Bruins during the NHL game against the Phoenix Coyotes at Jobing.com Arena on December 28, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. The Bruins defeated the Coyotes 2-1 in overtime. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Boston Bruins

BOSTON (CBS) – The Boston Bruins finally hit the ice again Wednesday night, as they head to New Jersey to take on the Devils.

After having three days off, and playing just two games in the last 11 days, the Bruins hit a busy part of their schedule. Boston will play three times in the next four days, and 12 times over the next 18 days.

But for a team that has won nine of their last 12, a steady dose of games is not such a bad thing.

“I think it’s a good thing for us to start playing a little bit more,” head coach Claude Julien said after practice on Tuesday. “We’ve had a pretty easy schedule in the first half and I think we’ve acknowledged that. We realize it and understand the challenges that lie ahead of us in the second half. We just have to get ready, stay fresh and stay focused. The one thing we learned last game is if we don’t bring our A-game, we’re going to see the A-game of the other team.”

After winning seven straight, Boston fell to the Stars in Dallas on New Year’s Eve. They’ve had three days to think about the loss, and are looking to bounce back Wednesday night in New Jersey.

“They battle very hard and they play a tough game,” forward Brad Marchand said of the Devils. “It’s going to be a good game.”

“Last time they played a real heavy game. They’re strong on the stick, they have strong bodies and we have to play them strong,” said defenseman Dennis Seidenberg. “We have to create more chances offensively. It seems like when we play a strong team, we have the puck but we’ve kept it to the outside. Now we have to establish shots and pressure towards the net.”

The Bruins beat the Devils in Boston 4-3 in mid-November thanks to three third-period goals.

The B’s will lace them up again Thursday night as they host the Calgary Flames before welcoming the Vancouver Canucks back to Boston on Saturday for a Stanley Cup rematch.

Although fans are looking towards the weekend rematch with the Canucks, the players are just taking the current stretch one game at a time.

“It’s going to be interesting. I know all the fans and everyone are going to be excited about it. It will be nice to get it over with,” Marchand said of the meeting with the Canucks. “I don’t think I’ve thought about it once. I don’t care that we’re playing them. It’s just another game in our mind. I haven’t heard anyone talking about it really.”

“Right now we’re focused on bouncing back,” said Julien. “We certainly didn’t like the last game we played in Dallas and we know we need a better effort. In order to start thinking about that game (against Vacouver), we need to right the ship here first and we have two games before that.”

“We’ve been so successful this year as of late because we do a good job not looking past the next game and make sure we’re focused on that, that’s how it’s been,” said Marchand. “We’re doing that right now and no one is looking at that game right now. We’re more worried about what’s happening (Wednesday) night (against New Jersey) and Thursday against Calgary. When the time comes we’ll worry about that game.”

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Felger and Massarotti opened the day discussing the Boston Bruins and yesterday’s NHL Trade Deadline. Did Peter Chiarelli do enough to improve the team? The guys also talked about the New England Patriots, the decision to place the Franchise Tag on kicker Stephen Gostkowski, and futures of Devin McCourty and Darrelle Revis. Finally, Felger goes off on Curt S